Page 45 - The Indian EYE 121523

SPORTS DECEMBER 15, 2023 | The Indian Eye 45

IPL & T20 WORLD CUP

A big and exciting season

of T20 cricket at home and

abroad is about to begin

The upcoming T20 World Cup will be hosted jointly by the West Indies and the US.

International Cricket Council still hasn’t come out with an itinerary for the tournament

OUR BUREAU

Mumbai
Jason Holder plays down
burnout fears

laying down burnout fears, star
all-rounder and former West
PIndies captain, Jason Holder,
backed the scheduling of the next
season of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) ahead of the T20 World Cup
next year, saying the premier domes-
tic event would provide an ideal plat-
form for cricketers to showcase their
skills in the game’s shortest format
and make a strong case for selection
for the showpiece tournament.
Holder said it would be ben-
eficial to get more game time and
hit top form ahead of the 2024 T20
World Cup. “The T20 cricket you
play leading upto a World Cup is al-
ways beneficial. Definitely, the IPL
being played before the T20 World
Cup would help. It will help the play-
ers prepare mentally as well,” Holder
told ANI. New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra in action (ANI)
Asked which franchise he would
like to turn out for in the IPL next to but it is not in my hands,” the West a player to understand and assess his Dhabi T20 League where he is repre-
year, the 32-year-old said that he India, who towers at over 6ft, added. work pressure and the grind of in- senting the Samp Army, Holder said
had a ‘nice time’ with Sunrisers Hy- The Caribbean represented the ternational cricket before venturing it has been going pretty well, adding
derabad (SRH) and Chennai Super CSK in the 2013 season of the tour- into franchise-based tournaments. that he was happy to smash a few six-
Kings (CSK) and he wouldn’t mind nament. However, ahead of the 2015 “I think it has its place. I think es in the tournament.
playing for these two franchise in the season, Holder was traded to Sunris- it is important to understand the The Caribbean said he hoped he
next season of cash-rich domestic ers Hyderabad. importance of international cricket. could win the League for the Samp
T20 league. Again, ahead of the last edition I don’t think if international cricket Army.
However, he was quick to add
“I have gone pretty well so far.
that it wasn’t for him to decide which of the IPL, he was sold to Rajasthan existed none of these leagues would I bowled really well and could strike
be possible. I think it’s important to
Royals (RR) for Rs. 5.75 crores.
team he would represent in the IPL Turning out for the Royals, Holder understand your work on the inter- a few overhead boundaries as well.
next year. scalped four wickets in 8 matches. national stage and then branch into So, it has been good for me so far.
“I have had a good time with
On the importance of franchise
Sunrisers (Hyderabad) and Chennai cricket in this day and age, the Bar- franchise cricket,” the 32-year-old I am really happy with how things
said.
have been going here for me. I hope
(Super Kings) as well. One of those badian opined that it’s important for On his performance in the Abu Continued on next page... >>
two teams would be nice to go back
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